Tag: 30 day challenge

No Nicotine 7 Day Challenge
Health · Uncategorized

No Nicotine 7 Day Challenge

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

I made it 3 months once, 4 another time. I’m going to try this a different way.

As of 12:30, I’m doing a “no Nicotine 7 day challenge”

If I can make it through the week, I’ll extend it. I was able to do the Whole30 (only reason I quit at 22 days was because I had plans less than a month away and didn’t know steamed kale was sauteed in butter, so had to reset)

I make it through Nano every November. I may not always win the 50k challenge, but I typically write daily. I also have made it through

I have studied the ways to hold off cravings and have determined procrastination, boredom and habit are all reasons I smoke. Today, I should have held off because I woke with no irritability and no craving. I’m just sick of the hold it has over me and I can think of alot more we could do with the 150-300 a month it costs us.

Wish me luck.

Yesterday, I decided to start the Whole30.
Health

Yesterday, I decided to start the Whole30.

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

Today is day 2 and already the cravings are unreal.

I know I’ll get past this and I’m hoping I’ll feel as great as people have said they feel but I’m already counting down to May 22 when I can start reintroducing.

Yesterday i went basic with boiled eggs for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch and game hen, sweet potatoes and mixed steamed veggies for dinner but I did snack on some pineapple after dinner. Today I’m working on cooking a bit more. I made sweet potato hash for breakfast and I’m not sure what will be for lunch yet, but im still 2 hours away.

As long as I can find things to do to take my mind off eating, I should be fine.

Thinking About Some New Years Resolutions
Uncategorized

Thinking About Some New Years Resolutions

The Dream Girl1 Comment

Only 5 days left in 2018.

That means I only have 23 days until I’m 31.

3 weeks left until I have to say I’m “in my 30s” which was always a fear- no longer being in my 20s sounded like I’m officially a grown up- ignore the fact I’ve been married 8 years now and have one child close to 8 years old. I feel like leaving my 20s means I’m officially an adult.

I also only do new years resolutions I plan on keeping. My most memorable was made January 2, 2010- that I would get clean and sober and remain.

I did get back into drinking several times that year, but it was also the year I met my husband who didnt drink and being with him helped me to the point I quit over the years, now I react the same as an allergy and after I quit daily heavy drinking, I couldn’t handle even a sip without my whole body tensing up and being in bad pain in all my joints. Last summer, I had my very last drink- it took me a good 30 minutes to start breathing normal again and felt like my stomach was so bloated it hurt to breathe and my throat tightened up. Now I have a total excuse to reject drinks- to others and myself.

I have decided on a few changes I’m wanting to make over the course of the year.

Nothing sudden on January 1, but slow changes over time. Nothing as cliche as “lose weight” but I would like to drop from a 14 to an 8 over the next year and drop down about 20-30lbs to my first goal of 140-150.

Instead of saying “lose weight” my goals are to find and stick with a good workout routine, go back to meditating daily, drink more water, give up pop and everything I cant tolerate (starting with 1-2 months on Whole30)

Instead of saying “quit smoking” I’m going to say “find the method that works best so I can quit.”

I do need to keep in mind that since I’m getting older, my health does need to be my focus. I do need to stop eating what I eat, eat healthier and start taking better care of myself overall. Not just for myself but as an influence to my kids and to keep the Osteo from progressing. I have other goals, but they are long term and personal. These are the ones I’m sharing.

Do any of yall do resolutions? Instead of starting suddenly on January 1, anyone take them slower and try to maintain? I’d love to hear your thoughts about resolutions.

Looking back through my life I am learning
Uncategorized

Looking back through my life I am learning

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

I just left my second longest job.

2 1/2 years and I left.

I enjoyed working there and I’ll miss my coworkers, but I needed to move on.

As I’ve been applying for jobs and working on leaving my comfort zone, I have had some job apps asking for my full employment history. It had me going through and recounting and made me realize something. I have burned out on nearly everything but two stay in my mind.

Skincare and writing. My first job was in high school. It was my longest running job and only ended because I went to college. It gave me a firm love of writing articles. I loved pitching, researching, interviewing and writing. I loved taking the pictures for the articles and attending the meetings. I loved everything about it.

Back in 2011, I was looking at a website devoted to 30 day challenges where I ran across NANOWRIMO which quickly became my favorite month. It gave me a fierce obsession with writing and as soon as I finished the rough draft of my first, inspiration quickly hit me and I started a new draft. Then another.

The first was my first win and so far, only, but I have planned and started yearly since. This year will be my 7th year doing it and will be my second win. I have a finished rough draft of a short story from a few years ago and am planning the next several in the series. Once I get all 7 finished, I’m planning on publishing the full short story series and releasing it.

I read a lot about finding and following your passion and finally realized I found mine a long time ago. I’m a big advocate of following your passion, I guess now is a better time than never for me to listen to myself.

I can’t believe the difference a year makes
Parenting · Uncategorized

I can’t believe the difference a year makes

The Dream Girl1 Comment

We just got home from the beach yesterday. We went last year during the same week.

I found our old beach pictures from last year and was amazed by how different the two year old looks.She looks so much older now, is now the size of a 3 year old and is talking, running, jumping and was so much more active. She was even trying to teach herself how to swim in the baby pool (partially dragging herself and partially starting to dog paddle- following the lead of some of the other kids she was watching and playing with)

It had me thinking about last year (she was 1 1/2 and now she’s 2 1/2) and also wonerding what the next year will bring us.

Now, she still loves bubbles, she loves nail polish, hats, headbands, necklaces, bracelets and rings. She loves lollipops, Ciao brand vegan cheese, apple juice and soy vanilla yogurt. (or as she calls it, “ice cream.”)

Back then she ate everything but had chronic diarrhea but now we know she can’t have animal milk or animal milk products (including goats milk or cheese) so we have to give her vegan butter, sour cream, cream cheese, cheese and ice cream)

Back then she would eat nearly anything and had a very healthy appetite, but now she only snacks and eats cheese, fruits and some vegetables- she’ll eat sandwiches occasionally and loves apple juice.

 

My 7 year old is fully potty trained, but has been since she was 5. (she was potty trained during the day at 4 but still in overnight pull ups- now she’s almost fully accident free), she’s talking a lot more, starting to be able to jump off the ground and can do stairs and stoops/curbs alone. Her speech is improving and she’s now going into her bedroom to play. She still melts down with loud noises and has ear tubes again but she’s getting a tiny bit better with some noise. She’s the one in the family who can eat whatever she wants but still eats like a bird. We did finally get her stably up to 38lbs but next year her sister still is probably going to pass her up weight wise.

She has also come so far this year, but she looks about the same. She’s not at an age where looks drastically change. With the two year old, she moved out of being a baby to being a toddler and you can see it plain as day.

Uncategorized

Day 6- your favorite recipe

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m gluten free and my 2 year old is dairy free. I have managed to find all the replacements we need for both of us and that includes a delicious gf baking flour that makes snacks that taste just like normal.

Gluten and dairy free Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal/chocolate chip) are my absolute favorites.

2 cups gf baking flour (I use Walmart generic- it’s the best I have found.)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup regular sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup crisco

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups steel cut gf oatmeal

1 cup gf/df chocolate chips (I use the Enjoy Life mini)

Preheat the oven to 350

Mix the 2 cups sugar with the crisco, add in the eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder and soda and a sprinkle of salt. Add in the oats and chocolate chips. Make small balls and grease a pan.

Bake for about 10 minutes

Uncategorized

Day 4- I got behind. Post about a former pet

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

My childhood best friend was a toy poodle named Fluffy. I’ll be editing to add a picture.

He lived to be 17.

When I was 10, I had been begging my parents for a cat for half my life. My aunt kind of tricked my mom into going with her to a poodle breeder so I could help pick out a puppy for “her”

I wanted a small, hyper, playful black puppy but she loved the nervous one shaking behind the couch so we got him. After she signed the papers, she told us the puppy was a gift for me and my dad. We were so unprepared, he spent the first few days in a laundry basket filled with blankets until we went and bought all the stuff. He hid for a while but quickly made himself at home. It’s been 3 years since we lost him and sometimes it still hurts like the day we had to have him put down.

Day 3- post about a pet
Uncategorized

Day 3- post about a pet

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

Our current fur daughter is Jade. She has been shown on here and has her own Instagram and Facebook page.

She is a 3 1/2 year old rescue from MeowCat Rescue. She was a somewhat impulse adoption. We were discussing adopting a fur child after we lost our Cassandra, were browsing through Petco, I saw her and we decided to apply to adopt.

1 day later we got the call that our application was approved and there was an adoption event going on the next day. We left our 3 year old with the grandparents and went to check out the kittens. They left us in a small enclosed area with Jade and a very hyper and playful kitten. Jade was their oldest (6 months), was shy and had been through 3 fosters. We chose her and she has been the purrfect addition to our family since.

Uncategorized

Day 2- 31 day challenge- personal story

The Dream GirlLeave a comment

I started this challenge off easy with a personal story from any subject and any time in your life

Growing up, I had a poodle named Fluffy.

He was all of 7lbs and 12 inches tall. We had an apple tree in our yard. One day, he discovered one of my apples growing.

That afternoon, we watched as he spent over 1 hour tugging and pulling at it. It took him that long, but he finally got it off, I believe he ate it all the way to the core.